Elisha Riggs (1779-1853)
Merchant Banker of Riggs, Peabody & Co., of 6 Bowling Green, New York City
Born in Maryland, he entered the dry goods business and went into partnership with George Peabody, forming Riggs, Peabody & Co., importing goods from Britain. He later went into banking and helped finance the Riggs National Bank co-founded by his son George. Riggs National Bank found fame as the bank where twenty U.S. Presidents held accounts, with enough assets to loan money to the U.S. government during the Mexican-American War. Although geographically operating in the Northeast states, Riggs enjoyed national influence through his merchant and banking enterprises.
